Glider hook for sash balances



Sept. 16, 1941. J. B. JEssuP GLIDER HOOK FOR SASH BALANCES Filed April l, 1940 S11/venin?,

'CMES .5. 172-55010,

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 2,256,205 I GLIDER HOOK FOR SASH BALAN CES James B. Jessup, Burbank, Calif., assigner to Duplex, Inc., West Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,155

8 Claims. (Cl. 16-205) This invention relates to glider hooks for use in connection with'sash balances and has a particular application in connection with a spring sash balance such as illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 327,156 filed April 1, 1940, and with other forms of sash balances.

In the type of spring sash balance mentioned a spiral coil spring mounted on anaxle within a housing is installed in the pulley stile or jamb, and the action of the spring is opposed to the weight of the sash, a cable carrying drum associated with the spring being operatively connected with the sash by flexible wire, tape or cable, the. latter of which rolls up on the drum in the housing as the sash is raised, and unwinds fro the drum as the sash is lowered.

It is necessary in that connection to have a satisfactory connecting device between the'end of the cable or other connectingv element and the sash which will adequately secure the cable end to the sash at the proper position. It is also desirable that this connecting device be formed with a friction 'spring which will perform two primary functions rst, that of governing movement of the sash against the stile, and second,1to

properly position the sash with respect t`o thev those known to the prior art. Y

It is a further object of my invention` to provide in a glider hook of the character described a simplified and improved assembly of the parts and attachment ofthe wire cable orother connecting element to the hook.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device of` the character described which has no rough edges on the stile engaging face thereof which might tend to mar the stile or improperly drag thereon, but which on the contrary is quite smooth on the outside and eliminates all possibility of undesirable scratching or dragging on the stile.

My glider hook is described particularly in connection with an installation in a window frame assembly. It, of course, has other applications in cabinet construction and the like which will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art.

Additional objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent nuponareading of the following description and reference to the'v drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation of apart of a window frame assembly illustrating my glider hook in use. .l

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View taken at the lower left hand corner of Figure 1 and showing the glider hook in vertical section. Figure 3 is a iront elevation of the glider hook itself taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a View of the same device as Figure 'looking at it from the opposite side.y In the drawing, I0 represents a conventional window stile, II is one sash, and I2 is a spring sash balance of the general character described from which extends a wire cable I3 to the Ylower end of which is attached my improved glider hook I4. It is obvious that in place of thespring sash balance I2 any other type of spring sash balance equipment may be substituted, but I prefer to illustrate my invention in connection with the preferred type of flat sash balance equipment.- It will be understood that in the spring sash balance I2 vthere is a spring tensioning element which tends to draw the cable I3 upwardly and thus counteract the weight of the sash. The same device is applicable either to the upper or lower sash of a window and the springsash balance may contain twin units, one for each sash.

I may also, if desired, use a balance at each side of the pulley stile, one being a duplicate of the other. A,

My preferred form of glider hook comprises an L shaped bracket member I5, having inturned flanges I6 on its vertical edges as illustrated, and a horizontal part 23 formed with a rib to increase rigidity if desired. The upper edge of the vertical portion is preferably turned inwardly and downwardly to form a horizontal flange I'I with a central recess I8 for-the ventrance of the wire cable or element I3. A hollow boss I 9 is struck inwardly from the upper portion of the vertical part of the bracket to form a seat for the cable I3 and an anchor for a spring member hereinafter described. Of course, a common rivet could be welded or otherwise secured to the inner -face of the vertical extension in lieu of the hollow boss which is struck inwardly, or some other arrangement for attaching the cable and spring may be employed, but the simplest and most effective way of fabricating thisY piece is as rst described. Moreover, the hollow boss provides a hole by which the hook may be mounted on an and securing the end of the cable.

intermediate point on the side of the sash, also to facilitate installation. For this purpose the hook The lower end of the cable I3 is wrapped around the boss I9 and the free end of the cable glider isA used on the opposite side of the sash.

` In other Words, it will work on either side or will may be twisted around itself; but thisv is not Y necessary, as it isordinarily sufficient to bring the free end of the cable up through the slot IB` as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Other meansl of attachment may be employed, as for instance, running the cable through the hole in the A horizontal slot 20 is formed in thevertical part of the bracket I5 extending the major por-` tion of the width of the bracket.

A leaf spring 2| is inserted through this slot 20. The spring has a wide curve as illustrated.

with a rounded and inwardly turned lower end.

That part of the spring which extends outwardly;

from the slot 20 is preferably approximately the same width as the bracket member I5. I also Vprefer to offset the'spring inwardly as at 22r to accommodate the slightly narrower dimensions of the slot'20 as well as tocomfortably seat on the inside of the flanged portion at the 'upper part ofthe bracket,V In my preferred formas described the spring is provided with a holeto accommodate the annular boss I9.V l In assembling the preferred form of my device,` the cable is first positioned onY the boss, the

` spring yis next placed in the bracket, andthe inner ends ofthe boss are spread with any suitable `tool as illustrated in Figure 2 to rivet the parts together. The clampingflanges II on the upper end of the vertical member, which up to` thisV point in' manufacture, Yextended at right angles, thereto, are now clamped down overthe upper end of the spring- The assembly steps described to this point are preferably 'made at the factory in conjunction with the Spring Sash balance.` The horizontal lower;V part 23 of the bracket I5 is formed with holes te accommodate screws or nails, or it may be equipped with a prongN or some other form of means toeattach it to a sash.

The glider hook is installed by yplacing it flush with the lower corner of the sash and attaching it by means of screws or nails as illustrated. It is desirable to let it into the'bottom of the lower sash, and possibly'to gain it in the side of both upper andr lower sash, depending upon the clear-A ance allowed by the installer. 4 In use, my improved glider hook performs several functions: First, it provides for the attach-` ment of the tensioned cable |13 to the proper point onV the sash; second, it provides a frictional engagement, in effect between the sash and the stile, to govern relativemovement of those two parts and consequently to assist in maintaining the'sash at theposition where manual movement thereof has stopped; third',r the spring action of my glider hook prevents the sash from sagging or creeping, that is to say it maintains the win# dow vertically and urges the opposite side into flush engagementvwith the corresponding stile, thus maintaining the sash in proper perpendicu-` lar position and eliminating the necessity of any roller or friction device on the opposite side of sash. The combination of forces offered by the tensioned cable andthe spring action of my glider hook assure that the sash will remain in a true perpendicular position. The same elect is obf tained if a duplicate of the sash balance and boss,

work in pairs, one opposing the other. In case a device is used on each side of the sash the latter will be truly centeredbetweenthe stiles and there will be the ecu'iivalen't clearance between sash and stile on each side.

. In previous types of glider hook it hasV sometimes occurred when the wooden parts swelled or when the installation or workmanship was poor and the clearance between sash and stile was thus diminished that parts of the glider hook improperly engaged the stile and marred it as well vas preventing correct operation of the sash.

Inmy present device this is impossible for the reason that there are no rough or irregular edges or projectionsV which can come in Contact with thestile. The outside of `my glider hook is perfectly smooth at every point. Even if the clear-` ance between sash and stile is diminished so that the spring-is entirely compressed it will still operate smoothly andthe spring will function with the proper frictional resistance against the stile.k

AnotherY lspecial advantage of the present construction of glider hook'is in the arrangementY of the spring fulcrum at the point where the spring masses throughy the slot 20. Y There is a` double fulcrum action there on the opposite faces of thespring. Y

Consequentlythe turned over edge of the annular boss I9, and the clamping flanges I'IV are not subject to any severe strain (which has been present in previous types ofv glider hooks with which I am familiar and which under severe pres sure or abuse may pull apart). The riveting action of the annular boss I9 and the flanges I'I in my present device is required only to retain the cable and the upper end of the spring in position. Once the spring is installed in this manner there isV but a very slight spring pressure exerted against the4 turned over edges of the retaining boss I9,Yor

the clamping flanges II.

may be made in the details of the devicewithin the scope of my invention. The spring, illustrated as a leaf spring, may be any formed spring having ar similar Vlongitudinal contour in cross section, and my reference in the claims to a leaf spring is intended to be so construed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A glidei` hook of the character Ydescribed cemprising a bracket member for attachment to al sash, 'said member being formed with a slot for the reception of a leaf spring, a spring retaining boss extending inwardly from said bracket,` and a leafspring fulcrumed in the said slot having a portion extending outwardly'from the bracket for Y l Y tachment to a sash, said member being formed with asiot for the reception of a leaf spring, a

cable and spring retaining boss extending in-V Wardly `from said bracket, a wire cable having its end looped around said boss, a leaf .spring fulcrumed in the saidslot having a portion extending outwardly from the bracket for frictional engagement with a member external thereof and a portion extending upwardly inside. the bracket and mounted on the said b oss against the loop of the wire cable, and meansY on the inner Vend of lthe boss securingthe cable andA upper end of the spring to theboss.

3. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket for attachment to a sash, said member being formed with a slot for the reception of a leaf spring, a spring retaining hollow boss struck inwardly from the face of the bracket, and a leaf spring fulcrumed in the said slot having a portion extending outwardly from the bracket for frictional engagement with a member external thereof and a portion extending inside the bracket and mounted on the said boss; and means on the inner end of the boss securing a cable and upper end of the spring in place.

4. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket formed with a horizontal slot for the reception of a leaf spring, and a leaf spring secured at its upper end to the bracket and fulcrumed in the said slot, having a portion extending outwardly from the bracket and having a rounded and inwardly turned lower end for frictional engagement with a member external thereof.

5. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket formed with a slot for the reception of a leaf spring, and a leaf spring having a portion extending upwardly inside and secured to the bracket and having a portion extending through said slot and outwardly from said bracket with a rounded and inwardly turned lower portion for frictional engagement with a member external thereof.

6. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket formed with a slot, a leaf spring fulcrumed in said slot and secured at its upper end only inside the bracket and having an outwardly extending curve portion with the end free for frictional engagement with a member external thereof, and pressural means for attaching the leaf spring and a cable to the bracket.

7. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket member for attachment to a sash, said member being formed with inturned anges which provide means to position a cable and a leaf spring, said bracket member having a smooth external surface, a slot formed in the said bracket member for the reception of the leaf spring, and a leaf spring fulcrumed in the said slot having a portion extending outwardly from the bracket for frictional engagement with a member external thereof.

8. A glider hook of the character described comprising a bracket member formed with a slot for the reception of -a leaf spring, a leaf spring extending through the slot and fulcrumed on an edge of the slot, means retaining one end only of the spring for fixed pressural engagement against the inside of the bracket member, and the oppog site end of the spring being free of the bracket member and formed with a smooth outer surface for pressural sliding engagement with an external surface, so that when the spring is compressed the only longitudinal movement thereof will be at its lower end.

JAMES B. JESSUP. 

